Incubator



Jan 30, 1951 M J, DUFFY 2,539,900

INCUBATOR Filed Oct. 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 30, 1951 M. J. DUFFY2,539,900

M. J. DUFFY Jan. 30, 1951 INCUBATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 26, 1946M. J. DUFFY Jan. 30, 1951 INCUBATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 26, 1946O O O mh oobooo VOO patentedA `an. 30,l 1951 ".Matthew J :f1-Duffy;Chicago,l1ll. assi'gnr gto .Han-i dif-'Premature Carrier Company,Ghicago; Ill'ya -feopai'tnership Applicationictober 26, 1946;-SerialNo'."705;935

' This 'invention relates to "incubatorsgl and-more :particularly toincubators off the typeaespecially 'l adaptedto be usedin theCareof-prematurefin- "fanta f As isc0mmonlyknotvnpnew bor-n' infants;and w especially those prematurely born,areioften=so -fral andweak thatspecial caremust'beused to insure Athat proper-temperatures L of 'the Yainsrri rounding them -beo maintained Y Wthin'i-rela-tively 4narrowlimits; and l to insure that vvthe infantbe "protected fromffdrafts. Tothis-end, hospitals fand like institutions;v have-heretofore employed"specially-'- air-conditioned roo-msiand *incubatore Theair-conditioned-rooms have the disadvantage,

of course, among-others,'-'o`f being immovable.from

a fixed location;and-theincubatorsheretofore known,A some -of Which havebeen-portable or "semi-portable; havey thedisadvantage-bf tbringr.complex in -structureriand-operat-ion. Iteisthe tprimary object of Vmyinvention4 to'4 provide an `improvedincubator, especiallyl adapted 'orJthe care of premature infants, which is-sae"and-"ief cient in use,vandwhich is sim'pleboth inconstruction and operation.

lIt has oftenbeen"found that when infants* have been born in privateYhornesg-orinA other places away "fromalsuitably equippedJhospital'j'that the fiinfantlmustberushed immediately aiterbirth to f'a'h'ospital for proper-'care and #treatment This"fis*especially-"trueinithe casebf infants born prematurely. fUn6rtunately,' the "period immedi- 'atelyffollotviing'VVV ithe'lbirth-of'an-infant andres- -p'ecially "aiepreme-ture'n infant, :is' one ,ofthamost f-critical ftimesi-iin ithefiproperprotectiono'the .flample;beingcuinb'ersome to handle `Jr-fuseycom- .cplicatedrn i constructionA:andlsoperation; delicate in'construction otlrat they areseasilybrkeneor '1 :thrown out. adiustmentorfineilicient aidunstruct anincubators-forfinfants?which:is compact.

Vvlight iin- Weights-easily! hardleda simple to Operate?simpleinconstructionand :eicientlrandireli'ablerinL operation.

`=It1is=afurther objecti of-my inventionitoiprovide an incubator forinfants Whichicanibefusediiefa fi'eiently eitherias-v aistationaryl orportable/unit.

1 handledilan'd-fmanually:transported-tlby one:

tendant, while an Ainfant :is inv-inc'ubatingiposition within theincubator.

Another fobject ot'myinvention isT-to 'constructanelectrically!h'eatedfincubatorforfinfantswhich cani be operated:fromfftho f usual 1 `electric 4power 'electric `power source-finambulance or. thelike.

ifYet. a" further lfobjectffotV myA 'invention -1- is tomo pla'eedtherein; can beadequately protected'fro'm :l draf-ts.

f Another object-'ofmy invention is to-const`ruct anincubatorforinfants'Vinil such amanner that,

` if so desired;thelspacewthinfwhich 'anlinfart-lis -placed may -beilluminated by diffusedllilghtefrom the normal operationl-ofi-tnheatingi devices ffor the incubator.

Because offitheir frailty;prematurely4 born inan'ls and sickor ailinginfants- Otten-haveniculty in breathing sucient air tosustainlife; and

-breathing-oxygenmust be supplied to themfThe supplying of oxygenftoinfants isl often adi-fclt VVproblem, especiallywhenfitis-necessary-toitransport the infant toa hospital and particularly whentransporting the infant to an'dfronrthe ambulance.' In thisconnection-itis anobje'ct of my-invention to prov-idea-porable'fincubatorefor infants wherein a supply of breathing-GX'Yg'en,

and apparatus'forfeedingthesame totheinf-ant,

may be carrieclas-an` integralpartthereof.

Another-"obj ect of my f'invention is1toJcon'st'ruct n an incubator `forinfants Whereinthe-"incu-batbr chamber, the heating Vunit, thetemperature controls, asupply of breathing-oxygen, and controls forregulating "the now rorf-breathing-'o X5/gen *into theL incubatorchamberA may 4all-be included in, a compact portable unitwhichr is @ofysuch size land weight Ythat fit 1f may lbef relatively easily Ycarriedby one man.

. An object ancillarytoltheoregoingis `to pro-- Y videan incubatonofthefafore-mentionedjtype wherein the temperature -`controls,- supplycofbreathing-oxygen; and the controls :for regulatwing the flowofoxygenlareireadilyaccessbleWithout subjecting an infant,whiclrJinight-be-'Within the incubator chamber thereof, to the danger ofdrafts.

A further object of my invention is to construct an incubator of theaforementioned character wherein the incubator chamber can be closedagainst drafts.

Yet another object of my invention is to associate a compound door withthe incubator chamber of an incubator for infants in such a manner thatit can quickly and easily be opened to provide a relatively large andunrestrictedy opening through which the infant can be easily placed in,or removed from, the incubator chamber, and wherein, at other times, thedoor can be quickly and easily closed, either completely or partially,the extent of closing being dictated by the conditions and requirementsof each particular case.

Another object of my invention is to construct an incubator which can bequickly and easily cleaned in a thorough manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide an eficient portableincubator for infants which is simple to operate, can be economicallyand cheaply manufactured, is sturdy in construction, and is reliable inuse.

Another object of my invention is to provide a practical and efficientincubator for infants which can be constructed of relatively light sheetmetal and wherein the walls thereof have a reflective surface, providingrelatively good insulative properties.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig.,1 is an exploded perspective View of an incubator for infantsembodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the incubator shown in Fig. 1, and with thetop covers closed;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the incubator shown in Fig. l,with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the incubator shown in Fig. l withcertain parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken substantially alongthe line 6 6 in Fig.

Fig. '7 is a detail bottom plan View taken substantially along the line1 7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line8 8 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail Vertical sectional view taken substantially along theline 9 9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a schematic diagram of the wiring for the heating system usedin the incubator shown Vin Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive; and

Fig. 1l is a schematic diagram of the wiring for the heating system usedin a modified form of my invention.

For purposes of illustration an incubator 2U, which embodies theprinciples of my invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings, andwhich incubator 20 is formed substantially in the shape of a rectangularbox or casing having a bottom wall 22, a front wall 24, a rear wall 26,end walls 28 and 30, two compound doors 32 and 33 and a longitudinallyextending door 35, the three doors `32, 33 and 35 comprising the mainportion of the top wall unit of the incubator 28. Runners 36 and 31 areattached to the bottom wall 22 by suitable means such as bolts 38 andact as supports for the incubator 28.

In general, the incubator 20 comprises an incubator chamber 40, intowhich an infant may be placed and from which an infant may be removedthrough the top of the incubator 20 when the doors 32 and 33 are open; aheater chamber 4|, disposed below the incubator chamber 40 and separatedtherefrom by a baby-supporting panel 43; and an auxiliary chamber 44extending longitudinally of the incubator 28 and disposed laterally fromthe incubator chamber 40 and the heater chamber 4I, and separatedtherefrom by a vertical, longitudinally extending partition 45.

The front edge portion of the end walls 28 and 38 are bent substantiallytransversely to form flanges 41 and 48, respectively, which are securedto the respective adjacent end edge portions of the front Wall 24 bysuitable means such as rivets 49. Similar rear flanges 58 and 5l areformed at the rear edge portion'of the end walls 28 and 29,respectively, and are attached to the respective end edge portions ofthe rear wall 26 by suitable means such as rivets 52.

Likewise, as is best shown in Fig. 4, the lower edge portion of the endwalls 28 and 30 are bent transversely to form flanges 54 and 55 whichare attached to the respective adjacent edge portions of the bottom wall22 by suitable means such as rivets 56.

The front wall 24, the bottom wall 22 and the rear wall 25 are formed ofone piece of material and may be formed by a bending operation in amanner well known to the art.

In the manufacture of my incubator, I prefer to make the front wall 24,the bottom wall 22, the rear wall 26, the end walls 28 and 30, the doors32, 33 and 35, the panel 43 and the partition 45 of my incubator 20 fromreflective, relatively light sheet metal such as, for example, sheetaluminum having a thickness of eighty-thousandths of an inch, althoughother suitable materials, and other thicknesses may be used withoutdeparting from the purview of my invention. Forming the incubator 20from aluminum, as I prefer to do, has the advantage of providing astructure which is light in weight and, also, one which is reectivelyinsulated to a considerable extent.

The baby-supporting panel 43 comprises a top wall 58 and substantiallyvertically disposed side walls or supporting legs 59 and '68 whichdepend from the longitudinal edge portion thereof. As is best seen inFig. 5, when the panel 43 is in position of use within the incubatorchamber 40, the supporting legs 59 and 68 rest on the bottom wall 22 ofthe incubator 20 and support the top wall 58 of the panel 43 in spacedrelation thereto. As is best seen in Fig. 8, a wire handle 6| ispivotally attached to the upper surface of the supporting panel 43 by abracket 62 and can be easily grasped by the operator to remove the panel43 from the incubator chamber 40 when it is desired to rei'fmovefthelsa-me cleaning'fthe finteriora-ofsthe lsincubatoriimlgor for anyfother"purpose. top 'wall 58 of the infant-supporting.;panelc4 haseperforationsr63 formed therein for purposeswhich 'awill `be presentlyexplained.

:substantially channel-shaped auxiliaryfsupsporting panelf 65, Vhaving 1a 'top'lwall 61'1and ldependinglside wallsor supporting legsv 59 and''-'I l, is vmounted in` the Vauxiliary chamber 44 andSeicuredltothe'bottom wall 22'fthereof bylisuitable* 10 means such asJbolts l2. As willi bef presently de- '"-scribed irr detail theauxiliary panel' 65 provides '\-aconduit"for a substantial portion: ofthe A'electric V*wi-ring used in the heating of -my novel incubator A'2920 and'falsov provides* a platform?" onl iif'fhiche-arr "15* oxygenlbottle,- or the like, may besuppo-rtedi in *fthe auxiliary `chamber Iv44.

`frivets 18. f The flanges |"I4"are"attached-'to thew,

wflolltWall 24, the Side Walls 28 and 30 and '13116132554 partition^45in such" a" manner that Y`the hori- """zo'nftally extending legs""'||lproject inwardly'toward the center Aof the incubator'lchamb'erfm, l andeach of the horizontally'extendinglegs'l,7

"has Van arcuate groove or `channel formed in the/"i305- "ligl 6, and asshown in solid lines in Fig. 7. `The latching member |23 may hereleased'fr'om latch- *upper surface thereof in which is 'lzzositioned avv"resilient cord 80 -for weather-stripping purposes.

The doo'rs"32,"33 and V35 are carried by a supporting frame 82 which isadapted Vto'rest 'on A`and be supportedby the uppene'dge portion of"35the front wall24jthe rear'wallA 26,the 'end walls `12|?. and 3|l`, andthe partition 45 Vof the'incubator `"20. Theframe 82'ic`omprises a frontmember '84,

end members 85 and"'86, a rear member V88 and", f a longitudinallyextending partition member 30. The lfront member 84'is attachedtothefr'ont 4end portions 'of the end'members 85 and 86, and `the rearmember 88`is `attachedto"the rear end portions of vthe rear' endmembers." 85 "and fby suitable formed corner members" 92 'secured Ain'lA"place by 'suitable'means such as 'ri`vets"94,J `the longitudinallyVeidendi'ng .partition member" 9|) being securediriplacby suitablyattaching the .endV portions thereof to the end members" A85' and 86` bysuitable means such as, for example, by

" soldering. l t The front member 84,`the`sde members v35 and and thelongitudinal member'fll of the frame '82 are each* Shaped somewhatsimilarly to the flanges "74' and' have downwardly" extending Y legs I36 and' horizontally extending' legs- 91, the latter of which areadapted, when the frame' 82'isiin [position on the'incubator 20 tooverlie and con- ;"taot the resilient cords' 80. Therear member l"'88 ofthe frame 82" has a vertically extendingleg" 99 and a curved,substantiallyhorizontally extending leg |55 and'is `adapted to rest onthe f upper end portion of the rear wall 25 when the -frame B2 is inassembled "position'on the inj'cubator 20. vSuitable latches |02,adaptedto' hold f1 the frame" 82 in position" on the incubator'20j and'-which are well known `to those skilledin the art," 'are mounted on`the`front wall24 'of the' infcubator 2E) andthe front' member' 8l! 'of theframe l I 82,' and simi-lar latches |54' are'mounted `on thef `rearwall'25 and the rear member'- 88. N he compound 'door32ihas twopanelsffo and I 51 vconnected*together by\a hinge. |39 and the door 32is hingedly` connectedtdthe end'rnemy Eber 85;` of thefframe 82 by ahinge H0 connectedf'75 l imilarly, the compound door'33 has"two:panels||`2"i`and I"|-3coni1ected togetherby afhinge II5 and is connected tothe endmemb'er 86 of Vthe f'frame'BZ by a 'hinger vwhich is attached tolthefo'uter end'p'ortionoi the' door panel H3. The dobri 35"is'of= thesingle panel type andisconnectedftothe rearmember 88101" the frame 32 byl'a` hinge I |19. l

i1tfwi11rbefn0ted' that fthe compoundwdoors 132 4Ifand'Iiillr'n'ay hecompletely Vopened so as to allow `si1bstanti'allyunrestricted access tothe incubator chamber'fliifby pivoting the doors 32 and 33 on'ne'hiiiges lil-and I I'I, respectively, or they 'may e?cpeiiedpartially by pivoting the panels |06 f 5nd` '|l'2 thereof'1around the hinges |09 and '|`|5, *respectively As' best seen in- Figs.Z and 6,1the "-fr'ee' 7lerici portion |2| of the door 33 extends be-"'y'ndthefcenter'linebetween the end members -'-?lie"'t'h free end"'p'o'rtion' -of the door 32 when `the do`ors"^32 Tand 33 are 'in fullyclosed position.

f =Aflatching member |23, having a knob |25y and a downwardly extendingscrew threaded shaft |21 Jto' which-'isfnon-rotatably secured, by a nut|29 andfwasherl, a latching element |32, is carriedT-hy'the'door"33li'and is 'adapted to retain the doors 32 and 33 inclosed position relative to each other when the latching element |32 isturned in such positionf as to underlie the door 32,- as shownin ingengagement with the door 32` by turningthe hnob '|25so as to positionthe latching element "|132 inthe position shown in dotted lines in Fig.

.7,1therebyreleasi'ng it from'- engagement with the "door 32. members|33 and |3, which are similar tov the ilatchingmember" |23 and aresimilarly operable to releasably hold the door '35 in latched engage-The door 35 also carriesY two latch'ing ment-with the longitudinalmember 53 ofthe frame 82.

lGlass inspection panels |35 and |35, Figs. l,v 2

and 5, comprising panes of glass Y|38 and l|39 are mounted in openingsMQ and EM, respectively, in the door panels |61 and I3, respectively,and are 144. The inspection panels |35 and |33 are 'so mounted'in `thecompound doors 32 and 33, re-

' spectively, 'that when an infant is in position @within the'incubatorchamber 14@ and the doors -`32 and33 are'in fully closedposition, theopera- 32 and 33.

As is best seen in Figs. l, 4 and 8, a suitable electric socket |46which is adapted to receive the lprongs of a connecting plug on the endof an electriccord such as the cord |4511, shown in Fig. 8, is"`mountedin the lower end portion of the end wall 23 of the incubator 2B adjacentto one end ofthe auxiliary chamber le4, and is suitably electricallyconnected/inparallel, to sockets.` |48 and l'| 43 in which may bemounted light bulbs |`5| Iand |52, respectively. The end portions ofvthe VVsockets "|48 and |59 into which the lightbulbs. "I 5I and |52 maybe screwed extend through suit- 7 the respective end walls 2s and 30 ensuitame flanges |59 and |60, respectively, and are adapted to controlthe parallel circuits to the bulbs |5| and |52, respectively.

As is best s;en in Fig. 8 and the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 10,electricity is supplied to the bulb |5I from the plug |46 through a mainpower line |62, a branch line |63, switch |56, a branch line |64, thesocket |48, a branch line |65, and a main power line |66, andelectricity is likewise supplied to the bulb |52 from the plug |46through the main power line |62, a branch line |68, the switch |51, abranch line |69, the socket |49, a branch line |10 and the main powerline |66. The lines |63 and |64 leading from the power line |62 to theswitch |56, and from the switch |56 to the socket |48, respectively,extend upwardly through an opening |12 formed in the top wall 61 of theauxiliary panel 65 to the switch |56 which is mounted in the upper endportion of the auxiliary chamber 44.I Likewise the lines |68 and |69which connect the power line |66 to the switch |51, and the switch |51to the socket |49, respectively, extend upwardly through an opening |14formed in the top wall 61 of the supporting panel 65 to the switch |51which is also mounted in the upper portion of the auxiliary chamber 44.

As is best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, insulating members |16 having suitablesheet metal covers |18 and liners |19 are attached to the lower surfaceof the upper wall 58 of the infant-supporting panel 43 by suitable meanssuch as rivets |8| directly above the light bulbs |5| and |52,respectively. The insulating liners |19 of the insulating panels |16 maybe made of any suitable material such as, for example, asbestos. Theinsulatng panels |16 act both as heat shields and light reflectors sothat extremely warm hot spots are not formed on the portions of theinfant-supporting panel 43 positioned directly above the light bulbs |5|and |52, respectively, and also so that light does not shine upwardlydirectly from the light bulbs |5| and |52 through openings 63 formed inthe supporting panel 43.

As is best seen in Figs. 3 and 8, an opening |83 is formed in thecentral lower end portion of the front wall 24 through which light bulbs|5| and |52 may be placed in, and removed from, the sockets |48 and |49,respectively, when it is undesirable to open the doors 32 and 33 andremove the supporting panel 43 during certain times such as, forexample, when an infant is in position within the incubator chamber 40.A removable panel |85 is normally positioned over the opening |83 andsecured to the front wall 24 by suitable bolts |81, the panel |85 beingremovable from the front wall 24 by unscrewing the bolts |81. I preferto make the opening |83 as small as practicable so that ifa light bulbburns out when an infant is in the incubator chamber 40 and it isnecessary to remove and replace the burned out bulb, uncovering theopening 83 by removing the panel |05 will provide as small an opening aspossible so that the infant will not be subjected to unnecessary drafts.Therefore in the preferred form of my novel incubator 20 the opening |83is just large enough to readily pass light bulbs such as the light bulbs|5| and |52 therethrough and this, in some instances, will mean that anormal sized adult hand cannot be extended through the opening |83 toremove and replace light bulbs from the sockets |48 and |49. However,mechanical hands or mechanical fingers, such as the type which are usedto Aremove and replace light bulbs from certain inaccessible lightfixtures', and which are well known to the art, may be used for thispurpose.l

In many instances, new-born infants, and especially those prematurelyborn, are so frail and weak that it is impossible or difficult for themto breathe a sufficient amount of air to sustain life, and in thoseinstances it is often necessary to supply substantially purebreathing-oxygen to the infant. In the use of my incubator', thesupplying of breathing-oxygen to an infant may be easily accomplished byplacing an oxygen bottle, such as the oxygen bottle |90, Figs. 2 and 3,in reclining position upon the top of the auxiliary supporting panel 65within the auxiliary chamber 44, and feeding oxygen from the Vbottle incontrolled amounts through suitable mechanism such as a valve |9I, aregulator |92 and a tube |93 into the incubator chamber 40. Suitablepressure gauges |95 and |96 may be provided to indicate both thepressure of the oxygen in the bottle |90 and the pressure of the oxygenas it is fed to the incubator chamber 46. As is best seen in Figs. l and2, the tube |93 through which the oxygen is supplied from the regulator|92 to the incubator chamber 49 extends through an opening |98 in thelongitudinal partition 45 which separates the incubator chamber 40 fromthe auxiliary chamber 44.

It will be noted that when an infant is in position in the incubatorchamber 40 and it is found necessary to operate or change the setting ofthe oxygen valve |9| or to turn on or turn off the switches |56 or |51,this may be accomplished by opening the door 35 to the auxiliary chamber44, which operation does not open the incubator chamber 40 and thereforeprecludes the possibility of thereby subjecting the infant therein toobjectionable or dangerous drafts.

Two handles 200 and 20| are attached to the outer surface of the endwalls 23 and 30, respectively, by suitable means such as screws 203, andby grasping a handle in each hand one man can easily carry my novelincubator 20 even though an infant is in position within the incubatorchamber 40 and a full supply of oxygenjis positioned within theauxiliary chamber 44. In the normal operation of my novel incubator, asuitable pad is placed on the top wall 58 of the infant-supporting panel43 and the incubator is then pre-heated by connecting the electric plugreceptacle |46 to suitable electric power and operating one or more ofthe bulbs |5| and 52 under the control of the switches |56 and |51,respectively. The doors 32 and 33 are then opened wide and the infantplaced on the pad on the supporting panel 43 and the doors 32 and 33 arethen closed the desired amount. To protect the infant againstobjectionable drafts, and also to assist in maintaining the propertemperatures within the incubator chamber 40, it normally will bedesired, and especially in chilly or cold weather, to keep the doors 32and 33 fully closed after the infant has been placed on the panel 43.However, during certain times, and especially during warm weather, itmay be desirable to have the doors 32 partly open and this may be easilyaccomplished by either partly or fully opening the door panels |06 and||2 as desired. Whether to have the doors fully closed or partially openwill depend on the circumstances of each individual case and thereforeit will be necessary for the operator of the incubator in each case todetermine the procedure to be followed.

It will be noted that if a relatively light pad such fas., for" example``a blanket, is used :on- .the-1. panel 13,so as to fully coverthe-topwall 58'there---y ofporfif4 a hea-vierpad is -placedon-the top-wall 58of. 1the-panelw=43 Fin suchf-.a manner-'that all, or .apart of;'theopenings "63 nearestf the periph* f 5 eral edge of thetopfwall 58'of thesupporting panel 43 are left uncovered, lightfrom'thefbulbs e I5| -and|52 -willbe difusedupwardlythrough.F the lighter, pad, or; ifa a'4heavier" pad ist-used;

throughY the uncovered openings 63; and provide @lo 1.

diffusedfillumination;within*the incubator cham-'- ber 40.

When f the baby-W has 5 been x placed in: the: incubator Vchamber-|),the tube.. |93 may beposie tio'nedso vas to closely loverhang infronttof the r l5 babys face so that oxygenfsupplied .therethrough will:surroundthe 'head-off the infant: Thefilow 'f of oxygen through-the tube|93 mayfrea'dily vbe regulated by opera-tion offthe Valve |9| which;

as vpreviously mentioned',- maybe adjusted Within 20@` the auxiliarychambenz-llll fwith: only the 'doorfa 'beingopened and-'without openingthe incubae A torchamber d0.'

Al'so the temperature-withinthe 'incubator All: may be carefullycontrolledby :the attendantwor'.- 25 operator by the .proper turning:onand 'turning '1 off-of the switches =|561fand |51 :to thereby se'vlectively turn on and turn.off-therheatingfelements or light bulbs |5|and |52.' This alsomay be accomplished upon .opening the. auxiliary -301 chamber illionly, and Without opening the incu-` bator chamber Inconnectiony with the control of -the temperature withinrfthe Vincubatorlliilfit L will be noted that, for l purposes of "illustration, I haveshown only two light bulbs |5|;v and`|52 .cone 35 nected to the power.lines'2I6-2vandf-661' How-'-v ever, this is forthe purpose tofillustrating my inventionv only, and not to limit it thereto, and

it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that more bulbstogether with suitable individual control means, similar tovv switches|`and |51, may be similarly connectedfn-parallel across the powerflinesISZand H33 andmountedn the heater chamber 4| in a manner similar tothat' employed in mounting thelight bulbs |5|f andi Si |52 withoutdeparting from the purview of my invention.

In the modied form of my invention, as shown*` in Fig. ll, parts similarto'parts shownin Figs;Y l

to 10,-inclusive,v are indicated by like reference numerals with thesuffix m added thereto; Itv Will'be noted that Fig.` 1l isa diagrammaticillustration of the modiiied form of electrical circuit used. inheating;and controlling the heatingfof, the modified form. ofymyincubatorandwj that/the construction of .the incubator, with" theexception of the wiringthereof, is substantiallyl thesame asthat shownin Figs l 'to ,9 inclusive.

The principaldiiference between the form of j my invention. shown inFigsl to k10 andthe inodi.- 60 fled form shown in Fig.. ll 'isthatvintheinodiied form .a rheostat 3Q@ is'l used ,to control the flow of..electriccurrentto the,..bulbs.j|5m andr im. lThe .rheostat 35i@ .may beof, any, Suitable. formbut I to use onehavin'gaapower ratingtofV ap;-V 5proximately 10G. watts, .and,.also, I. prefer.; to., mount` the rheostat335 .inx any .suitable manner, such as, for eXai'npleibyasuitable,bracket,..n.ot. shown, Within the auxiliary chamber of theincubator so` that the, rheostat .-does-.notproject 7G fromgtheincubator casing@v However, it-.willA/beappreciated that lstatetheemanner:in,-which I: nrcf'eiztofmcunt the.-.1heosta Seli-fertile:purl-953:1

' inrentioneonly nd, nutty-- kconstan-tI duri-ng,- thisri' timee ,openunp' 1 gthreeichambersatwomlsaid,icbamberslbemsp other`meansorfrnanners-of ymounting the rheo stat-300 may-be used Withoutdeparting from the/1y purview of my invention.V

It will'be-noted that the :rheostatdis conh nected infseries with thepower lines |62m--and |66m--and simultaneously vcontrols the `flow off"electricity from Ythe plug fMSmto the two bulbs' I5|m-and |52m', whichare-connected in-pa-ralle1z1 across the power lines |62mand .ll-35m' by:line-:5 Imm; socket* |48m=and lline 165m, and vline |70m,., socketl|52mf=and line Im, respectively.A

Fromftheforegoingit will be apparent that .I a. have provided. 'a,-novel;.incubator which may be used either as fa stationaryAorportableincubator;

Afon-infants andis especially adapted `ferr-thee.v

proper incubation-of frailv infants suchas, for ex ample, thoseprematurelyrbornaduring italie-trip Whenait is found necessary-Atotransport them-to a hospital-.f

Also it will'be noted thatv myvincubator 2U imay'. be connectedtoelectricv -powersources foundfinff the l-normal private-home, andvmay-also be simi-ei larly connected to a suitable` power sourcewithin-n an ambulance 'or the ,like while.transportingf, an:-.

`infant by ambulance to or-from a hospital...

Also it'ivill be-noted-^that-after an infant hase: been--placed-intheincubator.- chamber il and there incubator ZG'heated-to thepropertemperatura.= the `4incubator 2-fprov-idesv a .practicalwandfsafe.f meansof-V-transporting the infant to' and from fan@ ambulance,-.Vbeing suiiiciently l light -v and= easily handled for thispurposefand--also -beingsuitablyf insulated so that .the -temperature`withinthe in-zcubator chamber-fili) will bemaintained relatively.l Alsoduri-ng' thea; transporting of :the infant` to and from .the-anitavbulance4 withinthe v incubator fchamb er "lll 'Y iti-.willy be notedthat -myl `incubatorprovides afpracticals. andv safe pr0tection. of; theinfant ,from fdangerous, draf-ts.

Furtl'ier-more .itVA ,.w-illcbe. noted .that although; the-walls. of myincubator .are comparatively thin; andare made fromlightmaterialso thatfthein,. cubator .,mayebe. quickl-yand .easily handled ,by .a nurse`orother. attendant, relatively .good.ref1ec...

tive insulating qualities Vare provided ;therein...by,

forming the.incubator..,Zafromlaluminum or.,. Aif it isA formedfromless,reflective material, coating. the --inside and.,outside .thereofwith avreflective.. coating such as aluminum-.coloredpaint..

Inaddition-,itwill be noted. that. whenan ine. fant is. withinthe.incubator chamber di! Vand-.the doors V32..and 33.are 4closedfthe infantmaybe easily .,viewed. throughv the -inspection panels .l 35. and|3,as.may temperature indicating devices.

5 .which- .may be -placedwithn .the chanflber` 4a.

Also it. will .be noted. that after the l infant vhasn. been.:p1acedintheincubator chamber ,4D andi?. the doorsvw 32 ,and133,.thereof. are closed, .the..f1o.w. of oxygen to the infantandtha-temperaturecf 'j vthe incubator. chamber Amayloe regulatedwithe.

out ,openingv the .incubator chamber.v 48 and .thereby usubj ecting:the., infant. .to possibly dangerous., drafts.,

Hencefv ,whilel .have .illustrated anddescrbedg.

, the .preferred embodiments of, my nventiomitis; to beunderstoodthatthese. are capable.. of vari:

tion and modification and I .therefore do not wishA to be limitedtoltheprecise. ,detailsset forth; but," desire toayailmyselfcf such changesand'alterar tionsvasiall within the .purview of the.following; claims..

Iclaim;

1...- An..incnbatorpomprisna ,anasinahaving@.r1e

gend,- meansgdividinggsaid .lcasingint sitioned vertically one above theotherand the third chamber being positioned horizontally from the othertwo, one of said means for dividing said casing comprising asubstantially vertically extending partition positioned between sa-idthird chamber and said other two chambers, a closure member releasablymounted on said upper end of said casing for closing said upper end,weatherstripping means engageable between said closure member and theupper end portion of said casing and partition, electrically operatedmembers mounted within the lower one of said two chambers for heatingthe upper one of said two chambers, and means mounted in said thirdchamber and operatively connected to said electrically operated membersfor controlling the operation of said electrically operated members.

2. An incubator comprising a closable casing having three chambersdefined therein, two of said chambers being positioned vertically oneabove the other and the third chamber being positioned horizontally fromthe other two, a supporting member adapted to support an infant withinthe upper of said two chambers. electrically operated heating meansmounted within the lower of said two chambers for heating said upperchamber, said third chamber being adapted to hold a supply of oxygen forfeeding oxygen to said upper chamber, and means movably mounted on saidcasing for selectively opening and closing said upper chamber and saidthird chamber to the atmosphere.

3. An incubator comprising a closable casing comprising a bottom wall,side walls secured to said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefromand a top wall unit removably mounted on said side walls, a partitionmember extending upwardly from said bottom wall interiorly of saidcasing and dividing said casing into two parts, means for supporting aninfant within one of said parts, and means for heating said one part,said last mentioned means extending through said partition member fromthe other of said parts to said one part, said top wall unit comprisinga frame and door means carried by said frame, said door means beingmovable to open or close said top wall unit and said casing.

4. An incubator for infants comprising a casing, said casing comprisinga bottom wall, side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, anda top wall unit mounted on said side walls operable to be opened andclosed in segments to thereby correspondingly open and close saidcasing, a partition member extending upwardly from said bottom wall andhorizontally dividing said casing into two parts, a supportingA membercarried by said casing for supporting an infant within one of saidparts, an auxiliary supporting member carried by said casing within theother of said parts for holding a supply of oxygen in said other part,an electrically operated heater element positioned within said one partfor heating said one part, and means below said auxiliary supportingmember and extending through said other part and said partition memberfor feeding electricity to said heater element, and means comprising apassageway through said partition member for feeding oxygen from such asupply in said other part into said one part, one of said segments ofsaid top wall being movable into open and closed position forselectively opening and closing said other part without opening said onepart to thereby aiTordaccess to said electricf ity feeding means andsuchv a supply of oxygen without opening said one part.

5. An"incubator forV infants comprising a closable casing, said casingcomprising a bottom wall, side walls carried by said bottom wall andextending upwardly therefrom, and a top wall unit removably mounted onsaid side walls and operable to be opened and closed in segments tothereby correspondingly open and close said casing, said bottom wall,side walls and top wall unit being made of light-reflective material, apartition member extending upwardly from said bottom wall andhorizontally dividing said casing into two compartments, a horizontallyextending panel member carried by said bottom wall and adapted tosupport an infant Within one of said compartments, an auxiliarysupporting member carried by said bottom wall within the other of saidcompartments and adapted to hold a supply of oxygen within said othercompartment, electrically operated and parallel-connected heatingmembers positioned in said one compartment between said bottom wall andsaid horizontally extending panel member, electrically conductive meanscarried by said casing and extending between said auxiliary supportingmember and said bottom wall and extending through said partition memberfor carrying electricity to said heater members, said electricallyconductive means being adapted to be connected to an electric powersource positioned exteriorly of said casing, and manually operablecontrol means mounted in said other compartment above said auxiliarysupporting panel and connected to said conductive means for controllingthe flow of electricity through said conductive means, said top wallbeing operable during said opening and closing in segments toselectively open and close said one compartment and said othercompartment.

6. An incubator for infants comprising a closable casing, said casingcomprising a bottom wall, side walls carried by said bottom wall andextending upwardly therefrom, and a top wall unit removably mounted onsaid side walls and operable to be opened and closed in segments tothereby correspondingly open and close said casing, said bottom wall,side walls and top wall unit being made of light-reilective material, apartition member extending upwardlly from said bottom wall andhorizontally dividing said casing into two compartments each of which isdisposed directly under a respective one of said segments of said topwall and in vertical registration therewith when said segments areclosed, a horizontally extending panel member carried by said bottomwall and adapted to support an infant within oney of said compartments,electrically operated and parallel-connected heating elements positionedin said one compartment between said bottom wall and said horizontallyextending panel member, electrically conductive means carried by saidcasing and extending through said partition member for carryingelectricity to said heater elements, and manually operable switch meansconnected in parallel to each other for individually controlling saidheater elements, said switch means being mounted in the other of saidtwo compartments below said respective segment of said top wall inposition whereby said switch means is manually operable through the topof said other compartment when said last mentioned segment is disposedin open position.

7, An incubator for infants comprising a closable casing, said casingcomprising a bottom wall, side walls carried by said bottom wall andextending upwardly therefrom, and a top wall 'unit` removably mounted onsaid side walls and oper-' able to be opened and closed'in segments tothereby correspondingly open and close said casing, said bottom Wall,side walls and top wall unit being made of light-reflective material, apartition member extending upwardly from said bottom wall andhorizontally dividing said casing into two compartments and having anopening therein, a horizontally extending panel member carried by saidbottom wall and adapted to support an infant within one of saidcompartments, an auxiliary supporting member carried by said bottom wallwithin the other of said compartments for supporting a supply of oxygenin position in said other compartment for feeding oxygen through saidopening into said one compartment, electrically operated andparallel-connected heating members positioned in said one compartmentbetween said bottom wall and said horizontally extending panel member,electrically conductive means carried by said casing and connected tosaid heating members for carrying electricity to said heater members,and a rheostat connected to said electrically conductive means andoperable to simultaneously control the ilow of electric current to eachofsaid heating members, said electrically conductive means being adaptedto be connected to an electric power source positioned exteriorly ofsaid casing, one of said segments of said top wall being disposed oversaid other compartment in vertical registration therewith for therebyselectively opening and closing said other compartment for permittingaccess to such a supply of oxygen without opening said one compartment.

8. An incubator comprising a casing having three chambers definedtherein, two of said chambers being positioned one above the other andthe third chamber being positioned horizontally from the other two, saidcasing comprising a bottom wall, side walls secured to said bottom walland extending upwardly therefrom, and a o door unit mounted on said sidewalls and adapted to be actuated to open and close said casing, apartition member extending upwardly from said bottom wall and forming awall between said two chambers and said third chamber, said partitionmember having an opening for-med therein, a supporting member mounted onsaid bottom wall and forming a dividing wall between said two chambers,said supporting member being adapted to support an infant in the upperone of said two chambers, an electrically operated heating membermounted in the lower one of said two chambers, means extending throughsaid third chamber and through said partition wall for feedingelectricity to said heating member, and an auxiliary supporting membermounted in said third chamber above the level of said heating member,said auxiliary supporting member being adapted to support a container oioxygen within said third chamber from which container oxygen may be fedthrough the opening in said partition member into the upper one of saidtwo chambers.

MATTHEW J. DUFFY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis ipatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,219,185 Hirleman Oct. 22, 19402,243,999 Chapple June 3, 1941 2,292,120, Hanby Aug. 4, 1942 2,347,326Kirschbaum Apr. 25, 1944 2,366,630 Kreiselman Jan. 2, 1945 2,369,396Higginbotham Feb. 13, 1945 `2,417,962 Armstrong Mar. 25, 1947 OTHERREFERENCES Bulletin, Gordon Armstrong Co., Cleveland, Ohio, June 1945,description of an X-4 Portable Baby Incubator-Model 500.

